Container structure



Aug. 31, 1954 R. H. INNES CONTAINER STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 26 1951 INVENTOR )4; ATTORNEYS Aug. 31, 1954 R. H. INNES CONTAINER STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 26, 1951 Fig.6.

INVENTOR Faber? lzamilfarz-fmzes BY MM 7 Patented Aug. 31, 1954 CONTAINER STRUCTURE Robert Hamilton Innes, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, assignor to Perga Containers Limited, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, a corporation of Canada Application February 26, 1951, Serial No. 212,742

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to container structures which are suitable for the packaging of fluent materials and which can be made of paper, and it primarily seeks to provide a container of the character stated wherein a closure of the bellows fold type is provided having 2. normally sealed, readily rupturable pouring opening or mouth which, when opened, provides a very ample and efficient pouring throat, and which includes a reclosure feature permitting repeated opening and closing of the mouth without damaging effect.

Paper receptacles of the general character referred to are known and have been used extensively. The closures provided in such receptacles have not been entirely satisfactory. In some, difficulties have been experienced in opening the closures without tearing, and the closures in many forms have been found undesirable because of faulty construction and the resulting provision of unsanitary or insecure reclosure facilities. It is a purpose of the present invention to provide a container structure in which the deficiencies referred to are avoided.

In its more detailed nature the invention seeks to provide an improved container structure of the character stated wherein the closure is of the bellows fold type including two rectangular face panels, each merging at parallel side folds into a pair of triangular underfolds, one said panel having a line of weakened portions or perforations thereacross and extending also at least partially across the underfold at each side so as to be subject to being ruptured for opening a pour- .ing mouth across the panel by a forcing together of the parallel side folds.

An object of the invention is to provide a container structure of the character referred to in which the face panel which has the line of weakened portions or perforations is equipped with a strip secured to the inside of the panel and extending along and under the line of weakened portions or perforations, a portion of the strip being formed as a free flap extending across said line with its edge being spaced substantially from said line.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container closure of the character stated wherein the perforation line equipped panel has a reclosure flap strip adhered thereto to one side of the perforation line and extending as a free flap extension across said line in position to be received in pockets formed between the triangular underfolds and overlying portions of said panel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container closure of the character stated wherein .a pull tab extends from the external face of the facilitating an opening of the closure seal.

Another object of the invention is 'to provide a container closure of the character stated wherein the pull tab projecting from the external face of the panel to one side of its line of perforations overlies the reclosure flap strip and is defined by said line of perforations.

With the above and other objects in View that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating one form of the invention, the closure being shown in its sealed condition;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating the closure of Figure 1 after the seal has been broken, a reclosing of the pouring opening being in progress;

Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating the closure of Figure 1 with the mouth in the open or pouring condition, the manner of hand pressing the panel to effect an initial rupturing of the seal being shown in dotted lines;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating how the line of perforations is extended into one of the triangular underfolds;

Figures 6 and 7 are fragmentary perspective views illustrating a slightly modified form of the invention, the sealed condition of the closure being shown in Figure 6 and the open or pouring condition being shown in Figure 7; and

Figures 8 and 9 are fragmentary perspective views illustrating another slightly modified form of the invention, the sealed condition of the closure being shown in Figure 8 and the open or pouring condition being shown in Figure 9.

In the practical development of the invention the novel container structure preferably is shaped from paramned paper to provide a rounded bottom closure at A, a generally frusto-coniform body portion 3 merging upwardly into a bellows folded top closure portion C, beingsquare in horizontal cross section at the juncture of the body with the bellows folding as at, D. While the rounding of the bottom closure gives an exaggerated appearance of a downward tapering body which is not only attractive but also easy to handle, the diameter of the round bottom is nearly the same as the width of the container at the base of the bellows folding at D.

The bottom closure may take the form of a circular disc 5 turned down about its peripheral edge portion at 6 to form a liquid tight seam with the upwardly and inwardly turned edge portions 1 at the lower extremity of the body. The body stock has a lapped and sealed side seam 8.

Bellows folded closures are not uncommon paper containers andeach comprises a triangular "inwardly and upwardly directed info1d-9 at each 3. of two opposed sides, the base of which starts at the juncture D with the body portion 'B. Each of the two sides of each triangular infold 9 which converge upwardly and inwardly to form the apex of the respective infold, merges with the base of a triangular under flap portion ill. It will be apparent by reference to Figures 1 to of the drawings that while there are two of the infolds 9, there are four of the triangular under flap portions IE]. Two of the apex forming edge portions of the underfiaps It) at each side are arranged in generally parallel relation and merge at the fold lines H into an outer bellows face panel which is rectangular in shape. One said face panel has been designated [2, and the other one, into which the side seam 8 extends, is designated [3. The face panels I2 and i3 and the other apex forming edge portions of the under flaps lll merge into a multiple, upstanding rib l4, and the bod stock at one face is extended to provide a sealing overlap at I5.

The outstanding feature of the invention is that of providing a novel pouring opening, initially conditioned to provide a proper liquid seal but which is adapted to be manipulated with great facility to break the seal and provide an efficient pouring throat or spout, and yet be subject to efiective reclosure. To accomplish this purpose the panel [2 is provided with a line of weakened portions or perforations H5, and these perforations extend across the fold lines II and at least a major portion of the width of the under flap portion It at each side, as will be clearly apparent by reference to Figure 1. The under flap portions id cooperate with the overlying panel [2 in forming side pockets I1, and a flap or strip [8 is adhered to the face panel i2 beneath the line of perforations l5 and projects across said line of perforations as a free fiap extension IS, the upper edge of which is spaced substantially, say about one quarter inch above the line of perforations l6. Preferably, the ends of the strip [8 and flap [9 terminate short of the fold lines I l. The extension it is receivable in the pockets I! in the manner clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, and thus may serve as a reclosure flap.

The sealed condition of the container is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. By grasping the lower portion of the face panel l2 and squeezing the side fold portions l i together in the manner indicated in dotted lines in Figure 4, it is a simple matter to rupture the panel along the line periorations i6 and effect an opening of the closure. Rupturing of the panel may be facilitated by first running a fingernail, thumbnail, or a suitable instrument along the line of perforations Hi. It will be apparent that the squeezing together of the panel side edges will cause a buckling as at 2d at the center of the panel, withdrawing the flap extension is from the receiving pockets i! and providing a troughed pouring spout at 2!. Due to the spacing of the upper edge of the flap l9 above the line of perforations IS, the flap extension !9 is protected or curved before opening, and is not touched during preliminary weakening of the line of perforations [6, or otherwise during opening. Consequently, the pouring spout 2! will be completely sanitary when the contents of the container is poured over it.

Forming the strip l8 so that its ends terminate short of the fold lines H facilitates breaking the perforations along the line [6 and subsequent buckling of the panel H2 in response to squeezing in the manner indicated in Figure 4.

When it is desired to effect a reclosure of the container it is a simple matter to insert the flap extension l9 into the pockets l1 and bring the ruptured edges of the pouring mouth together. Extension of the flap is across the now unsecured mouth edges will reinforce the opening and prevent inadvertent separation of said edges. A reopening of the closure can be effected whenever desired by mere withdrawal of the flap is by panel buckling as in Figure 4, and then reclosure can again be effected as before described.

In Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings there is illustrated a slightly modified form of the container closure in which the face panel 22 is provided with a gripping flap 23 secured at 24 to the panel below the line of perforations 25. This fiap 23 can be utilized to facilitate opening of the closure. By grasping the flap 23 with one hand and the upstanding rib 26 with the other, and by then moving the hands apart, the rupturing of the perforations and an opening of the closure can be effected in the manner illustrated in Figure '7.

In Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings there is illustrated another slight modification of the invention in which the line of perforations 21 extending across the face panel 28 is shaped at 29 to provide a grip tab Bil overlying the flap strip 3|. This grip tab 30 can be freed by a knife or fingernail and gripped by one hand in cooperation with a slide squeezing by the other hand in the manner illustrated in Figure 4 to effect the desired perforation line rupture and opening of the container.

The configuration assumed by the pouring spout 2! when the container is opened may vary according to the characteristics of the stock of which the panel i2 and the strip is are made. In some instances, the spout may be angular, as shown in Figures 4, 7, and 9; but it may also be more evenly curved or rounded from end to end.

While example forms of the invention are shown and described herein, it is to be understood that other modifications in the specific structure of the closure can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a container structure of the character described, a body, and a bellows fold closure for said body including two upwardly converging opposed face panels, two opposed triangular folds directed upwardly and inwardly between the face panels and connected therewith by triangular underfolds to form generally parallel face panel side defining fold edges, one of said upwardly converging face panels having a weakened line extending thereacross and substantially spaced above the bottom of said upwardly converging face panel, said line being normally intact as a fluent material seal but subject to rupture when said two side defining fold edges are pressed toward each other, causing the portion of the ruptured upwardly converging panel beneath the ruptured line to pucker outwardly and provide a pouring mouth, and a strip secured to the inside of the upwardly converging face panel along one side of the weakened line in said upwardly converging face panel, said strip having a free flap portion extending across said line with its free edge substantially spaced from said line throughout the length of said free edge.

2. In a container structure of the character described, a body, and a bellows fold closure for said body including two upwardly converging opposed face panels, two opposed triangular folds directed upwardly and inwardly between the face panels and connected therewith by triangular underfolds to form generally parallel face panel side defining fold edges, one of said upwardly converging face panels having a weakened line extending thereacross and substantially spaced above the bottom of said upwardly converging face panel, said line being normally intact as a fluent material seal but subject to rupture when said two side defining fold edges are pressed toward each other, causing the portion of the ruptured upwardly converging panel beneath the ruptured line to pucker outwardly and provide a pouring mouth, and a strip secured to the inside of the upwardly converging face panel along one side of the weakened line in said upwardly converging face panel, said strip having a free flap portion extending across said line with its free edge substantially spaced from said line throughout the length of said free edge, the ends of said strip terminating short of said panel side defining fold edges.

3. In a container structure of the character described, a body, and a bellows fold closure for said body including two upwardly converging opposed face panels, two opposed triangular folds directed upwardly and inwardly between the face panels and connected therewith by triangular underfolds to form generally parallel face panel side defining fold edges, one of said upwardly converging face panels having a weakened line extending thereacross and substantially spaced above the bottom of said upwardly converging face panel, about each of its side defining fold edges and across at least a portion of the two connected underfolds, said line being normall intact as a fluent material seal but subject to rupture when said two side defining fold edges are pressed toward each other, causing the portion of the ruptured upwardly converging panel beneath the ruptured line to pucker outwardly and provide a pouring mouth, and a strip secured to the inside of the upwardly converging face panel along one side of the weakened line in said upwardly converging face panel, said strip having a free flap portion extending across said line with its free edge substantially spaced from said line throughout the length of said free edge.

4. In a container structure of the character described, a body, and a bellows fold closure for said body including two upwardly converging opposed face panels, two opposed triangular folds directed upwardly and inwardly between the face panels and connected therewith by triangular underfolds to form generally parallel face panel side defining fold edges, one of said upwardly converging face panels having a weakened line extending thereacross, about each of its side defining fold edges and across at least a portion of the two connected underfolds, said line being normally intact as a fluent material seal but subject to rupture when said two side defining fold edges are pressed toward each other, causing the portion of the ruptured panel beneath the ruptured line to pucker outwardly and provide a pouring mouth, and a strip secured to the inside of the upwardly converging face panel along one side of the weakened line in said upwardly converging panel, said strip having a free fiap portion extending across said line with its free edge substantially spaced from said line throughout the length of said free edge, the ends of said strip terminating short of said panel side defining fold edges.

5. In a container structure of the character described, a body, a bellows fold closure for said body including two upwardly converging opposed face panels, and two opposed triangular folds directed upwardly and inwardly between the face panels and connected therewith by triangular underfolds to form generally parallel face panel side defining fold edges, one such face panel having a weakened line extending thereacross and substantially spaced above the bottom of said upwardly converging face panel, about each of its side defining fold edges and across at least a portion of the two connected underfolds, said line being normally intact as a fluent material seal but subject to rupture when said two side defining fold edges are pressed toward each other, causing the portion of the ruptured panel beneath the ruptured line to pucker outwardly and provide a pouring mouth, the weakened line equipped triangular underfolds extending inwardly under and opposing the weakened line equipped face panel across such line to provide receiving pockets, and a flap strip adhered to said face panel at one side of the weakened line thereof and extending beyond the other side of said line as a free reclosure flap having a free edge substantially spaced from said weakened line throughout the length of said free edge, the end portions of said reclosure flap being extensible into said pockets so as to be withdrawn therefrom upon rupturing of the weakened line and the opening of the pouring mouth and receivable in said pockets as a closure securing means upon reclosing of said mouth.

6. Container structure as defined in claim 5 wherein the weakened line is shaped to provide a grip tab at one side of the weakened line and whichmay be grasped and pulled to facilitate the rupturing of said line and the opening of the pouring mouth.

7. Container structure as defined in claim 5 wherein said weakened line is shaped to provide a grip tab at one side of such weakened line and wholly overlying said flap strip and which may be grasped and pulled to facilitate the rupturing of said weakened line and the opening of the pouring mouth.

8. Container structure as defined in claim 5 wherein the weakened line equipped face panel is provided with a grip tab at the side of said weakened line to which said flap strip is adhered and which tab may be grasped to facilitate the rupturing of said line and the opening of the pouring mouth.

9. Container structure as defined in claim 5 wherein the weakened line equipped face panel and the connected triangular underfolds associated therewith are of a single thickness of material at both fold edges of such face panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,002,005 Gottlieb May 21, 1935 2,003,925 Daller June 4, 1935 2,004,818 Luckett June 11, 1935 2,122,885 Lowey July 5, 1938 2,286,465 Clement June 16, 1942 2,299,461 Clanon Oct. 20, 1942 2,360,439 Monroe Oct. 1'7, 1944 2,416,332 Lehman Feb. 25, 194'? 2,475,677 Ringler July 12, 1949 

